Australian Football

Melbourne-born Jack Sheehan commenced his senior football career in 1911 with Collingwood for whom he made three appearances. The following season saw him at Melbourne, but he did not play a senior game, and in 1913 he crossed the Bass Strait to play for Launceston-based club City. In 1915 and 1917 he made 14 appearances for Richmond without ever really establishing himself and the 1918 season saw him relocating to Sydney where he would spend the bulk of his career.

From 1918 to 1920 Sheehan served as captain-coach of the original Sydney Australian Football Club. After a season captain-coaching Narrandera he assumed the same responsibilities at Newtown, where he remained until 1927.

Sheehan’s two interstate appearances for New South Wales both featured the VFL as the opposition. In 1922 at Erskineville Oval, Sydney he captained the home state but the Vics won comfortably by 45 points. Three years later Sheehan, who lined up in a back pocket, was part of a historic 13.10 to 13.9 triumph after the teams had switched ends for the last time with the VFL three goals to the good.

Author - John Devaney